Financial Aid /Scholarship Policies

Financial Aid and Athletic Scholarship Policies

The goals of the athletic scholarship program at the University of Montana are to provide financial assistance to deserving student-athletes and to ensure that all awarding of such aid is consistent with the regulations of the NCAA and the Big Sky Conference. The assumption in awarding athletic financial aid is that students who devote long hours in practice may, through a regulated program of assistance, be relieved of the obligation to work part-time to subsidize their collegiate education. Athletic scholarships are awarded only to those individuals who show exceptional athletic promise and aptitude to meet academic standards and maintain academic progress. The program’s justification must provide the expectation that students will meet the University’s academic standards while encouraging participation in an intercollegiate sport.

I. Definition and Maximum Value

A. A student-athlete receiving financial assistance other than that administered by the student-athlete’s institution or from anyone upon whom the student-athlete is naturally and legally dependent is not eligible for intercollegiate competition, except for exceptions provided in NCAA Bylaw 15.

B. Institutional financial aid includes scholarships, grants, loans.

C. Institutional financial aid may not exceed the value of tuition and regular fees, room, board and course related books. A student-athlete also receiving a Pell Grant may receive that beyond the value of the allowable institutional financial aid.

D. The tuition waiver portion of an athletic scholarship waives fees for a course load of 12 to 21 credit hours. Student athletes are financially responsible for courses registered beyond 21 credit hours. Some fees are refunded for dropped courses through the 15th day of the semester.

E. Special course fees and on-line course fees are not covered by athletic scholarship. Appeals can be made to Jean Gee, Senior Associate Athletic Director.

F. Academic year athletic scholarship does NOT cover summer courses. Summer financial aid is awarded through an application process. Applications are available from the Senior Associate Athletic Director generally in March of each year.

II. Eligibility

To be eligible for an athletic scholarship, a student-athlete must be eligible for intercollegiate competition by being in compliance each academic semester with the minimum grade point average, satisfactory progress requirements and full-time student status. (See Academic Eligibility Policies)

III. Terms and Duration

A. A Tender of Financial Assistance defines the terms and duration of an athletic scholarship and the mutual responsibilities of the University of Montana and the student-athlete. A student-athlete assumes responsibilities to the University of Montana and to the particular sport for which the aid is granted when he/she signs a Tender of Financial Assistance.

B. The athletic scholarship will be awarded on an annual basis, with one-half being disbursed each academic semester, provided the student-athlete meets all NCAA, conference and University requirements governing athletic financial aid. All grants are limited to one year in duration.

IV. Criteria for Reduction or Cancellation of Athletic Scholarship During Period of Award

A. Institutional athletic aid MAY NOT be reduced or cancelled during the period of its award (defined as the academic year) on the basis of a student-athlete’s ability or contribution to a team’s success; because of an injury, illness, or physical or mental medical condition that prevents participation in athletics; or for any other athletic reason. {NCAA 15.3.4.3 (a)(b)(c)}

B. Institutional athletic aid MAY be reduced or cancelled if the recipient renders himself/herself academically ineligible for intercollegiate competition; fraudulently misrepresents any information on an application, letter of intent, or financial aid agreement; engages in serious misconduct warranting disciplinary penalty; or voluntarily withdraws from a sport for personal reasons. {NCAA 15.3.4.2 (a) (b) (c) (d)}

C. Students who receive athletic aid when not eligible will be required to repay the aid. Examples: dropping below progressive grade point average, accepting monetary compensation for signing with an agent or with a professional team, dropping below the minimum credit requirement during a given semester.

D. Increases in institutional financial aid are permitted between signing date and the beginning of the award; also subsequent to receiving aid, an institution may increase aid if the institution can demonstrate that such an increase is unrelated in any manner to an athletics reason. {NCAA 15.3.4.1}

V. Criteria for Renewal/Non-renewal of Athletic Scholarship

An athletic scholarship may be renewed annually for a maximum of five years at the discretion of the Head Coach. Athletic scholarships are one-year contracts. NCAA regulations do not require a reason for nonrenewal or reduction of a scholarship from one year to the next.

VI. Procedures for Cancellation/Reduction/Renewal/Non-renewal of Athletic Scholarship

A continuing student-athlete who received an athletic scholarship the previous year and who is eligible for financial aid must be issued a renewal Financial Aid Agreement or written notification of non-renewal on or before July 1. The agreement must be signed by the student-athlete by July 1 or within two weeks of its issuance or the aid offer may be withdrawn. When cancelling, reducing, or not renewing an athletic scholarship for the succeeding year or semester, the following procedures will be followed: A. The Head Coach makes the decision on renewal/non-renewal/reduction of aid. If the decision is to not renew or to reduce the amount of aid for the succeeding year, the coach will complete the appropriate form and send it to the Athletic Director (or designee) for review and signature.

B. It is the responsibility of the Head Coach to meet with each student-athlete who is being reduced or not renewed to inform him/her of the decision and to provide an explanation. While the official written notice is sent from the Director of Financial Aid (or designee), it is common courtesy for the student-athlete to be first notified by the coach.

C. The Athletic Director (designee) will then review the Head Coach’s decision, discuss the case with the coach and, if agreement is reached, will sign and forward the form to the Director of Financial Aid (or designee), who will notify the student-athlete.

D. The Director of Financial Aid (or designee) emails the official Notice of Non-Renewal/Reduction, along with a copy of UM’s established policies for financial aid hearings, to the student-athlete. If the student-athlete wishes to discuss the issue on an informal basis, s/he may contact the Director of Financial Aid (or designee) for an informal meeting. There is no official outcome to this meeting.

E. If the student-athlete wishes to appeal the decision of non-renewal or reduction, s/he may, within 10 calendar days of the date on the notice, request a review of the decision by the Athletic Scholarship Appeal Committee. The request for a review must be made in writing to the Director of Financial Aid (or designee) using the Application for Final Appeal-Athletic Scholarship (available from the Director of Financial Aid). Other forms of notice and incomplete applications will not be accepted. On the form, a student must indicate whether s/he wants a paper only review of the appeal, or an in-person hearing.

F. The notice is emailed to the student’s official University email address. It is the responsibility of the student-athlete to check his/her University email account on a regular basis. There will be no extensions to the 10-day deadline.

G. Paper Only Review: The Director of Financial Aid (or designee) will gather the necessary information from the student, the coach and the Athletics Compliance Officer and disseminate all documents to the Committee members. If needed, any member of the Committee can request a meeting of committee members to discuss the appeal. Otherwise, the review will be conducted via email.

H. In-Person Hearing: The Director of Financial Aid (or designee)-consulting with the student-athlete, Athletic Department, and the Committee-will schedule the hearing as soon as possible. The student-athlete must make every effort to appear for the hearing in person. Nontraditional hearing formats (i.e., Zoom) will only be approved in rare occurrences and only due to extreme extenuating circumstances. If the student-athlete fails to appear for the hearing, s/he will forfeit his/her hearing opportunity per NCAA bylaw, and a decision will be rendered without the student-athlete stating his/her case.

I. Subsequent to the paper review or hearing (whichever is applicable), the student-athlete and Athletic Department will be notified by the Director of Financial Aid (or designee) of the Committee’s decision in writing. The decision of the Committee is final and binding.

VII. Committee Composition and Conduct of In-Person Appeal Hearing (if applicable)

A. Committee Composition – The committee shall be comprised of five members: Director of Financial Aid (chair); chair of University Athletic Committee; Faculty Athletics Representative; Dean of the Davidson Honors College; member of ASUM. All five members are voting members.

B. Conduct of the Hearing i. The scope of the appeal and committee deliberations shall be limited to: • Was there a violation of NCAA, Conference, or team rules and regulations? • Was there a violation of University policy? • Are there extenuating, documented circumstances which made the nonrenewal/reduction clearly unfair to the student?

ii. The procedures described for the hearing are administrative procedures designed to create an opportunity for a student-athlete to receive an impartial review of a head coach decision on his/her athletic aid. They are not legal proceedings, and as such will not follow those formal legal procedures.

iii. Participants in the hearing will include the student, the head coach, the

Committee members, and the Athletic Compliance Officer. The role of the

Athletic Compliance Officer is to provide guidance to Committee members on

NCAA and Conference rules and regulations. The Athletic Compliance Officer is present during the proceedings, but not present during Committee deliberations.

The hearing proceedings shall not be recorded by any participants and all information will remain confidential.

iv. The student-athlete may have a person of his/her choosing attend the hearing.

However, if that person is a lawyer or one who has legal training, this must be indicated on the appeal form. If it is not indicated, and a lawyer appears for the hearing, the hearing will be canceled and rescheduled to allow the University to have legal representation present.

v. During the hearing, the student-athlete may present witnesses and/or other evidence to support his/her case. In addition, the head coach and/or Athletic

Director (or designee) will present their information to the Committee.

vi. The hearing shall begin with an introduction from the Athletic Compliance Officer on the relevant and applicable Conference and NCAA rules and regulations. The

Chair will inform all participants of the scope of the appeal (see VII.B.i).

vii. At the conclusion of presentation of all information, including appropriate time for

Committee member questions, all participants will be excused and the

Committee shall move into deliberations. The Committee will endeavor to reach a decision within 10 business days. The Chair of the Committee may seek followup information from appropriate individuals in order for the Committee to reach an informed decision.

viii. If the Committee finds that the non-renewal, reduction or cancellation of athletic aid is not a violation of NCAA or Conference rules, or of University policies, and that no extenuating, documented circumstances are clearly present, the appeal is denied.

ix. If the Committee finds that there is a violation of NCAA or Conference rules, or of

University policies, or that there are relevant extenuating, documented circumstances, the appeal will be approved. The Committee shall determine the appropriate amount of aid (shall be no more than the student’s prior level of aid), term of aid (shall be no longer than one academic year), and any conditions on the aid (i.e., full-time enrollment, GPA requirement, graduation plan submission, etc.).

x. The authority of the Committee is limited to the disposition of athletic aid only.

The Committee does not have the authority as to the athlete’s status as a member of the relevant athletic team. Further, in the event that aid is reinstated, it may only be used for educational expenses for courses taken at the University of Montana.